Matt Smith learnt to ride a horse for Doctor Who

Matt SMith loved learning to ride a horse for 'Doctor Who' episode 'A Town Called Mercy' because he has always wanted to play a cowboy

Matt Smith learnt how to ride a horse for the upcoming cowboy-themed episode of 'Doctor Who'.

The 29-year-old actor had to be taught how to control the huge animals for his role as the Doctor for adventure 'A Town Called Mercy' and he was more than happy to get in the saddle because he's always wanted to be a cowboy.

He said: "After two lessons I was cantering already. I've never ridden before. It was purely for 'Doctor Who'.

"We're in the Wild West! I get to ride horses! I get to play cowboy. Guns! Saloon bar doors... You literally get 'Doctor Who' does the Wild West."

Matt and the rest of the TARDIS crew Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill - who play companions Amy Pond and Rory Williams - shot the episode in Almeria, Spain, the town where spaghetti westerns 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'A Fistful Of Dollars' were filmed.

Matt admits it was one of his favourite ever episodes to shoot because it's every boy's dream to be a cowboy.

In an interview with Radio Times magazine, he said: "Oh man it was fun. Stetsons and everything. We did a scene, a showdown in a windswept street. It's quite exciting to get to play a cowboy. What's wonderful about the Doctor is, of course you get to do the narrow-eyed stuff and the posturing, but then two lines later he'll be snapping out of it going, 'Oh this is ridiculous, what am I doing?' He can be ironic, play a role, wear a hat. then step outside of it and see how silly it all is."

'A Town Called Mercy' - written by Toby Whithouse and directed by Saul Metzstein - airs on BBC One on Saturday (15.09.12).